personal finance

How to help Maui fire victims. Experts advise keeping these 4 tips in mind


Donated clothes for those affected by the Maui fires are stored at Honokowai Beach Park in western Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 14, 2023.

Yuki Iwamura | Afp | Getty Images

As the Hawaiian island of Maui struggles to recover from the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history, many Americans are asking, “How can I help?”

American households tend to give $80 per year to disaster relief, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, a charity organization, with about one-third of American households donating to these events.

That adds up to about $3 billion per year from Americans’ pockets for both domestic and global disasters, according to Tanya Gulliver-Garcia, director of learning and partnerships at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.

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“It is a lot, and at the same time, it’s never enough,” Gulliver-Garcia said.

The generosity shown by many in the immediate aftermath of the fire that ignited Aug. 8 has shown “the aloha spirit is alive and well throughout Hawaii and far beyond our waters,” said Kaleialoha “Kalei” Cadinha-Pua’a, president and CEO of Cadinha & Co., a Honolulu-based registered investment advisor.

“The outpouring of love and support has been critical to help the people of Maui heal and provides much-needed hope during this inexplainable time of sadness,” Cadinha-Pua’a said.

Tips for recovering financial losses following a natural disaster

For those who are interested in helping with the recovery, experts say there are several tips to keep in mind.

1. Send money, not stuff

Monetary gifts provide the most flexibility to families displaced by the wildfires.

Kaleialoha Cadinha-Pua’a

president and CEO of Cadinha & Co.

Finding the help to accomplish that task amid the disaster is difficult, Gulliver-Garcia said. Moreover, what is being sent often doesn’t meet the immediate needs.

Instead, donating money may help victims decide what they need most.

“Monetary gifts provide the most flexibility to families displaced by the wildfires,” Cadinha-Pua’a said.

By selling items you don’t need rather than donating those items, you may be able to raise funds to contribute, Gulliver-Garcia suggested.

2. Remember recovery will be long term

Typically, about 80% of individual donations go out in the first five to six days after a disaster, according to Gulliver-Garcia. Since the Hawaii disaster is likely to stay in the news for longer, that timeline may be a bit longer, she said.

However, the recovery from such a large disaster will take years.

Other U.S. areas affected by recent disasters, including parts of Kentucky affected by flooding and areas of Texas struck by Hurricane Harvey, still need assistance, Gulliver-Garcia noted. Moreover, 18 years after Hurricane Katrina, some parts of Louisiana are still in the process of being rebuilt, she said.

“Even next year or the year after when you’re thinking about, ‘How am I going to give out money to help with disasters?,’ remember that past disasters in many ways are just as important as current disasters,” Gulliver-Garcia said.

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3. Choose your charity wisely

When it comes to donating, choosing trusted, well-known charities should be a priority, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez recently said in response to the tragedy.

To help with the immediate response, the Red Cross and Salvation Army are the prominent organizations on the ground right now, Gulliver-Garcia noted.

Maui fires death toll rises to 96, becoming deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history

4. Beware of scams

Unfortunately, when big-headline disasters arise, scammers may try to solicit donations.

“In moments of crisis, we all must be extra vigilant against bad actors who try to take advantage of people’s good will,” Lopez said, in a recent statement.

If an organization is very insistent that you make a donation over the phone, it would be wise to hesitate, Gulliver-Garcia said.

In moments of crisis, we all must be extra vigilant against bad actors who try to take advantage of people’s good will.

Anne Lopez

Hawaii Attorney General



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